Ukranian president wants Merkel "more involved"

Ukranian president wants Merkel "more involved"

KIEV -- Petro Poroshenko has called German Chancellor Angel Merkel and other world leaders to get more involved and help settle the conflict in the country.

Poroshenko referred to the clashes as "pro-Russian uprising in the east of the country."

"The involvement of Merkel and other world leaders is critically important to a settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine," a statement said, after Poroshenko spoke with Merkel by phone on Sunday, AFP reported.

Russia considers a permanent ceasefire in the east of Ukraine necessary before peace talks could begin, announced the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"At this point, a sustainable ceasefire is necessary as the basic condition for initiating practical steps towards obligatory dialogue between the authorities in Kiev and representatives of protesters in southeastern Ukraine," reads the statement of the Russian Ministry, issued after a telephone conversation between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

The Ukrainian president last Friday declared a week-long ceasefire and addressed the nation yesterday to outline his peace plan, which according to reports, "offers dialogue to pro-Russian rebels who did not commit killings or torture," but warned that there was also "a detailed plan B" if the proposal failed to bring results.

New Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin should today in Luxembourg present Poroshenko'sv peace plan at a meeting of foreign ministers of the European Union.